THOUSANDS of workers are being recruited to act as the eyes and ears of the police in a new anti-terror drive at Manchester Airport.

Police already encourage the 19,000 staff who work at or near the airport, as well as an estimated 7,000 plane spotters who regularly come to the three terminals and use the Aviation Viewing Park nearby, to be on the lookout for anything suspicious.

Now they have extended the scheme to include out-of-the-office council staff employed by five neighbouring local authorities.

They are conducting seminars on security with bosses at Manchester, Stockport, Trafford, Tameside and Macclesfield councils.

They want workers and contractors who are regularly out on the streets around the airport - for instance refuse collectors - to be vigilant for any suspicious activity and report it to police no matter how insignificant it may seem at the time.

Threat

The airport has been on high alert for the last two years following the war in Iraq.

Early last year airport police closed the roofs of car parks at the three terminals over fears terrorists could use them to launch rockets. They were later re-opened. The nation remains at its second highest state of alert - just short of an "imminent threat".

Although police have launched the new drive they stressed there was no specific terror threat against the airport or Greater Manchester.

Chief Inspector Martin Gaffney, who also co-ordinated the security operations at the Commonwealth Games, the Labour party conference in Manchester and the Champions League final at Old Trafford, said: "This is an operation simply to extend that community engagement in and around Manchester Airport to reduce the threat from crime or terrorism."

He said his staff would brief council bosses in north Cheshire and south Manchester to encourage their staff to be vigilant.

"If they see anything out of place they can contact the police," he said.

Asked about how serious the current threat level was, Chf Insp Gaffney said: "The threat to the country is at the second highest the country can be at the moment. Consequently, we take the threat of terrorism very seriously."

Anyone wanting to report suspicious behaviour around the airport should call Manchester Airport police on 0161 856 0250 or the Anti-Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789321.

Listen to an audio clip of Chief Insp Martin Gafney talking about the terror threat at Manchester Airport by clicking on the link below.

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